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Composition Playlist (CPL)
The CPL is the XML file inside a DCP that defines the composition — which track files play, in what order, for how long — and its UUID is the only trustworthy identifier for a version.
Also written: CPL
The UUID is the real title
Human-readable names lie. Two packages can carry the same title, the same date and the same studio and still be different compositions — a corrected reel, a different certificate card, a re-timed version, a territory variant. The CPL's UUID is the only thing that distinguishes them reliably, and it is what a distributor's key system actually keys on.
This has one very practical consequence. When a KDM will not open a package that looks correct, the usual cause is that the key was cut for a different CPL UUID than the one you ingested — you have version A, they issued for version B. No amount of re-requesting the same way will fix it; the request has to carry the UUID you actually hold.
Which is also why a TMS shows CPL UUIDs rather than only filenames, and why it is worth knowing where to find one when a distributor asks.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find the CPL UUID?
Your TMS or server interface lists it against the ingested content. It is also readable in the CPL XML file inside the package itself.
Why do I have two CPLs for one film?
Commonly a feature plus a supplemental version, or two territory variants. Check which one the booking and the key refer to before scheduling.
Is the CPL the same as the show playlist?
No. The CPL is the film as the distributor assembled it. The show playlist is what you build around it — adverts, trailers, automation cues.
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